Trainer: Rios can pose problems vs Pacquiao

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing coach Robert Garcia thinks his fighter Brandon Rios can pull off a surprise against high-level boxers, including Manny Pacquiao.

Garcia pointed out that Rios is young and hungry and has a close-quarter fighting style similar to Antonio Margarito’s.

These, combined with Pacquiao’s age, can break the Filipino boxer, he said.

“I think that Brandon's style combined with Pacquiao's age and all of that, we might be able to pull of a surprise,” Garcia said in RingTV.

Garcia, who worked the corner of Margarito during his unanimous decision loss to Pacquiao in 2010, knows that the Filipino boxer had trouble absorbing body punches.

Margarito caught Pacquiao with a body shot in the sixth round that caused the Filipino grimacing in pain. Fortunately, Pacquiao was able to circle away from further assault using his speed and footwork.

However, Garcia said Pacquiao might not be as successful when he trades against Rios.

“Brandon keeps on coming, works the body beautifully and throws really good uppercuts in there. The only difference is that Brandon is 10 years younger than Margarito, which could be a big difference in a fight with Manny Pacquiao," said Garcia.

Rios has recently won a seventh-round stoppage against Mike Alvarado in a classic brawler versus brawler match. The fight was such a crowd thriller that boxing promoter Bob Arum mentioned Rios as a possible opponent for Pacquiao in April 2013.

"Pacquiao and Rios would be an unbelievably huge draw because people would know that they would see crazy, wild action," Arum said.

But this can only happen if Pacquiao defeats Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez on December 8.

The Filipino is expected to have a tough match against Marquez, with whom he has already had three close ring battles.